Real Recycling in Maidstone Gets Massive Boost

10.14.13am BST (GMT +0100) Mon 3rd Sep 2007

Maidstone Liberal Democrats moved quickly to tackle big public concerns about the 50% cut in refuse collection frequency proposed by Maidstone Conservatives. Within hours of taking over the leadership of Maidstone Council the Liberal Democrats stopped all planning for fortnightly refuse collections. These cuts will definitely not now be introduced in October as the Conservatives planned.

Responding to public concerns about the environmental benefits of some forms of recycling Maidstone Council Liberal Democrats ensured that a study was commissioned to discover the most environmentally beneficial and financially responsible recycling approach open to us. This work informed our ambitious plans to massively boost local recycling performance, whilst retaining the weekly refuse collection service. The new scheme will see a fortnightly 'doorstep' collection of all dry recyclables (including plastics, paper, tins, cans and cardboard) alongside the retained weekly refuse collection service. If agreed by a majority at the next Full Council meeting in September the new scheme will be phased in from next February. With only the Conservative group on Maidstone council championing fortnightly refuse collection we have high hopes of success.